National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1887-06-15
OPPOSING RETRocEssIoN.
A Petition that Was Filed in 1917
Against II.

The Supreme Court, in the case Of Payne
VS.. Philips, having said that there was no
opposition to the retrocession Of Alexan-
dria county TO the state Of Virginia, we
print the petition filed In the House o.
Representatives June 81, 1s47, and re-
ferred to the committee for the District Of
Columbia
The petition Of the undersigned citizens Of
the county of Alexandria, late OF the District
Of Columbia, forthemselyes, aud on behalf ota
large majority OF the citizens of the country
part of said county respectfully showeth
That we deeply regret and deplore the pas.
sage OF the act OF Congress at the first session
OF the twenty ninth Congress, commonly
called the act of retroCession, whereby your
honorable bodies allowed under certain condl.
lions the dismemberment OF the District OF
Columbia and the ceSsionlOf the whole county
OF Alexandria to the commonwealth OF Vir-
gina
That the said act inhlcts upon us, the citizens
of the rural portion ofthe county, injuries OF no
uncomfortable gravity without extending any
sufficiently countervailing advantages.
That our past condition under the legislation
and authority OF tho United States was one
happily exempt from state taxation, while the
operation OF the act of retrocession will be to
subject us to taxation not other than grlev.
Gus without our having had any voice what.
ever in mourning the same and without any
prospective counter benefit.
That the baisis of suffrage on which the said
act was founded was such as TO deprive the
citizens of the country part of the county of
their due and just share Of influence at the
polls held under authority OF said act
That these hardships arc 50 much the moro
grievous inasmuch as the citizens OF the rural
portion Of the county have never betrayed
habit OF importuning your honorable bodies
for money or other gifts or advantages, as has
VIGOROUSLY been the case with the inhabitants
That the debts and diiiiculties from which
the citizens Of the town of Alexandria haye
sought to relieve VET, themselves by procuring the
part or lot In mourning, and shall derive no
advantage. whatever from the relief, should
there perchance be any SO obtained;
Ing subjected against our will and consent to
the operation OF the laws Of said state of vlr.
ginia, most of which laws we are unavoidably
ignorant Of, while the few OF which we have
been informed on hearsay are the object OF our
unfeigned terror and dislike.
That while we In no respect or degree wish
prosperity ofthe town Of Alexandria yet we
object to become, virtually, the victims,
whose sacrifice Is 10 purchase for the sole benc.
1T of said town the relief and advantages sup
posed to be obtainable through retrocession to
Virginia.
That therefore we propose and petition your
honorable bodies with more than common fer
vency that you cause to be set on foot, in such
/ manner and form as your honorable bodies
may in your discretion deem best, q PROPOSE
ton to the government Of the state OF Virginia
which shall tend eventually TO restore the
rural portion of the county OF Alexandria to
the District of Columbia by annexing II TO
l the county Of Washington, In said District, and
retain the corporation Of Alexandria in the
| commonwealth of Virginia, thereby securing
to the respective majorities Of tho country part
| Of the county and ofthe town their respective
l wishes, and at the same time doing nothing
| geographically inconvenient to the inhabitants
| Of said town.
And your petitioners will ever humbly pray
Signed by Anthony r. Fraser, Richard South
/ m
| Marcy, Wesley Carlin, and over one hundred
| others.